MADRID - SPANISH golf legend Severiano Ballesteros is conscious and talking to his family after undergoing three operations last month to treat a brain tumour, the hospital caring for him reported on Monday.

'Ballesteros continues to evolve favourably. He is conscious, is breathing spontaneously and can talk with his family,' Madrid's La Paz hospital said in a statement, adding the 51-year-old had begun rehabilitation treatment in the intensive care unit.

'His family would like to express its thanks for all the messages of support which it has received,' it added.

Ballesteros, who collected 87 titles before knee and back problems forced him to retire last year, was taken to La Paz Hospital on Oct 6 after he collapsed and briefly lost consciousness at Madrid airport.

He announced he had a brain tumour on Oct 12 after first personally informing his ex-wife and their three teenaged children of the diagnosis.

Two days later, he underwent surgery to remove the tumour, and on Oct 16, he had a second operation to ease a build-up of fluid in the brain.

On Oct 24, Ballesteros underwent a third successful operation to ease swelling in his brain and remove the remains of a tumour.

Regarded as one of golf's all-time greats, Ballesteros won five majors.

He won the British Open in 1979, 1984 and 1988 and became the first European to win the Augusta Masters in 1980, an achievement he repeated in 1983.

He was an influential figure in the Ryder Cup, winning 20 points from 37 matches and captaining Europe to victory at Valderrama in 1997. -- AFP